HI SCR85

Encourages Hawaii residents to select plantable native trees for holiday celebrations instead of importing evergreen trees from the continental United States.

Requests the Greenhouse Gas Sequestration Task Force design a scalable pilot program supporting the use of plantable native trees for holidays, with assistance from the Hawaii Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Commission and University of Hawaii experts.

Requests the Department of Agriculture work with nurseries and stakeholders to promote local production and marketing of indigenous Hawaiian trees for holiday use.

Requests the Department of Land and Natural Resources identify and prepare land for reforestation with trees available for planting each January following the holiday season.

Aims to reduce holiday expenses, promote local agriculture, support small farmers, reforest arid lands, sequester carbon, and reduce the environmental impact of importing and disposing of non-native trees.